Newzroom Afrika adds Mapi Mhlangu as latest editor-in-chief, Stephen Grootes exits Newsfeed PM.

by Thinus Ferreira

Newzroom Afrika (DStv 405) has recruited the former eNCA editor-in-chief Mapi Mlhangu as the South African TV news channel's editor-in-chief, while Stephen Grootes is leaving as anchor of Newsfeed PM and The Pulse.

Mapi Mlhangu replaces Njanji Chauke who left as editor-in-chief in March this year just before South Africa's general election, after he lasted just a year and four months since his appointment in December 2022.

According to Newzroom Afrika Mapi Mhlangu will immediately "assume responsibility for leading the channel's dynamic newsroom, evolving its editorial strategy and upholding its commitment to journalistic excellence".

Mapi Mhlangu in a prepared statement says "I'm excited to be back in the fast-paced news environment and honoured to lead a team of distinguished and up-and-coming professionals".

"Considering what Newzroom Afrika has achieved in the five short years since the launch, I'm convinced there is no limit to what we can do together in the future. I look forward to working with my team to continue building on the high editorial standards that the channel has set for itself."

Mapi Mhlangu is the founder and managing director of the content consultancy firm Minsight Content Creation.

She completed an MBA dissertation focusing on the top 5 private legacy news media groups on the African continent and how they can attract funding from commercial and non-commercial sources.

Thabile Ngwato, Newzroom Afrika CEO and co-founder, in the statement says "We are thrilled to welcome Mapi to the Newzroom Afrika team. Her strategic insights and strong leadership credentials will be an invaluable asset as Newzroom Afrika continues to evolve and innovate to remain the trusted platform for credible, up-to-the-minute news, commentary and analysis".

Anchor Stephen Grootes is leaving the Newsfeed PM and Pulse strands as anchor but will according to Newzroom Afrika "remain on the platform in various capacities".

eNCA is done with Tonight with Jane Dutton, while long-running Maggs on Media is cancelled, as the TV news channel retools its schedule and current affairs offering again after a year.

After 11 months eNCA (DStv 403) is done with Tonight with Jane Dutton, with several other new and long-running programmes - including Maggs on Media - scrapped.

It comes as eNCA is once again working on another scheduling revamp following a lacklustre line-up rejig it unveiled in mid-July 2018 that less than a year later had come apart at the seams.

After luring the former eNews anchor Jane Dutton from Doha where she anchored for the Al Jazeera (DStv 406 / StarSat 257 / Cell C black 503) TV news channel and given her own weeknight prime time show from mid-July 2018, eNCA quietly and abruptly dumped Tonight with Jane Dutton that was last broadcast almost two weeks ago on 13 June.

Since its debut the talk show centred Tonight with Jane Dutton that got the plum and valuable 20:00 prime time slot, received criticism media experts, politicians and most importantly, viewers.

An interview Jane Dutton did with the EFF political party's deputy president Floyd Shivambu during her show's launch month in July 2018 left DStv subscribers wide-eyed.

Since then the show has had to apologise for on-air mistakes, while critics said that Jane often looked aloof, disconnected and uninformed about topics.

Insiders meanwhile noted that it came across as if eNCA producers were out to deliberately sabotage Jane Dutton while viewers looking for news didn't understand why eNCA switched to a talk and interview format at 20:00

An interview on 18 March on eNCA with Lesego Tlhabi during prime time - while South Africa was experiencing Stage 4 load shedding - saw Jane Dutton do a satire interview with the comedian who appeared on-air in character as Coconut Kelz, and that was conducted in a similar vein to what Trevor Noah does on The Daily Show on Comedy Central DStv (122).

Viewers were left confused and angry and under the mistaken impression that Jane Dutton was doing a real interview, not expecting news satire during eNCA's most important prime time hour as Jane asked rehearsed, play-along questions like "I believe you've got a direct line to Eskom. How does that work?"

Jane Dutton last appeared on eNCA on 12 June, with a fellow eNCA anchor suddenly sitting in for her the next night on 13 June and making a bewildering and unexplained appearance, saying "this is Tonight with Jane Dutton, I'm Thembekile Mrototo" after which the programme disappeared from the schedule.

The eMedia Investments channel made no announcement as to what has happened to Jane Dutton and issued no programming advisory, as is customary, to viewers. The timeslot quietly switched to a 2-hour "eNCA Now" branded timeslot.

eNCA was asked in an emailed media enquiry why the decision was taken to dump Tonight with Jane Dutton, whether Dutton will remain with eNCA, and if so in what role and capacity. The channel didn't answer the question.


Current affairs shows ended
eNCA's newly announced schedule and anchors line-up in July 2018 quickly started to unravel after eNCA unveiled its latest on-air shuffle as part of what it then called "reinventing ourselves for the next 10 years".

Little is now left of the schedule as eNCA announced it in July 2018 with the channel that saw a major and ongoing exodus of talent over the past year.

Several stars like the former NewsNight co-anchor Cathy Mohlahlana decided to quit who is now the prime time anchor at new rival news channel Newzroom Afrika (DStv 405).

Mapi Mahlangu who used to be the eNCA editor-in-chief was let go with Jeremy Maggs continuing in the position as acting editor-in-chief.

While eNCA remains the most-watched TV news channel on MultiChoice's DStv satellite pay-TV service, it is feeling the growing competition from SABC News (DStv 404) and Newzroom Afrika.

Now eNCA is busy cobbling together yet another new news and current affairs programming line-up.

Insiders have whispered that Maggs on Media - the longest running continuous show to have remained on the eNCA schedule - is relocating to be done from e.tv's Zonnebloem studios in Cape Town.

The truth however is that the media and marketing Sunday morning magazine show has also been cancelled.

"Following in-depth audience research, eNCA has decided to end the productions of three current affairs shows namely Maggs on Media presented by Jeremy Maggs; CrimeWatch with Yusuf Abramjee and Madam Speaker with Iman Rappetti," eNCA told TVwithThinus in a statement in response to the media enquiry asking about the channel's changes.

"These programmes will be replaced in time with new current affairs shows which are currently in development," eNCA said.

The channel said that "eNCA can also confirm that it is revaluating its weekday and weekend line-up. This is carried out on a regular basis with the intention of improving programming and growing the audience of the country’s most watched news channel".

Jeremy Maggs said "Audience needs constantly change and it is our job to recognise these changes and make necessary adjustments".

"My thanks to both Yusuf and Iman for the hard work they both put into compelling programming." 

Jeremy Maggs said that "when changes are made, eNCA will communicate those changes".

eNCA backtracks on NewsNight changes as Vuyo Mvoko is made sole anchor and political editor; Cathly Mohahlana back to anchor during the day with Vata Ngobeni appointed as eNCA sports editor.

eNCA (DStv 403) is undoing some of its line-up changes just 6 months after its introduction in mid-July 2018 with its prime time news programme NewsNight that is going back to starting at 18:00 and that will now be sole anchored by Vuyo Mvoko, with co-anchor Cathy Mohahlana going back to anchor a daypart.

Six months after eNCA's now departed news director Mapi Mhlangu changed the South African TV news channel's schedule and anchor line-up in mid-July 2018, eNCA is once again changing it, including breaking up its NewsNight co-anchor presentation that always had dual presenters.

From Monday night NewsNight that was shifted to 17:00 in mid-July is once again moved back to a starting time of 18:00, now with Vuyo Mvoko as the only anchor of eNCA's flagship news show.

Cathy Mohlahlana who anchored mid-mornings before her promotion to NewsNight in mid-May 2017 as co-anchor, is shifted back after a year and 8 months and will now once again be anchoring eNCA during the day.

Cathy Mohlahlana is now taking over as the anchor of eNCA Now between 13:00 and 15:00 on weekdays, replacing Jeremy Maggs.

Jeremy Maggs, eNCA acting editor-in-chief, will no longer serve as anchor during the week but will continue to present his weekly media magazine show, Maggs on Media on Sunday mornings.

Jeremy Maggs shifted from prime time in mid-July to the afternoon slot, but with the added duties of day-to-day management of eNCA and with 2019 being a general election year requiring additional management of news resources and logistics, decided to let weekday anchoring go.

Jeremy Maggs will be used as a special anchor on eNCA depending on his availability during key news events.

"I am very pleased that I can hand the lunchtimes over to Cathy who is one of the young stars in a very talented line-up of anchors," says Jeremy Maggs. "This will give me an opportunity to focus on the business of running a dynamic and demanding newsroom."

Following eNCA Now, Thulasizwe Simelane will now anchor on eNCA from 15:00 to 18:00 for an hour longer.

Besides now being the lone anchor of NewsNight, Vuyo Mvoko has been appointed as eNCA's political editor, with Vata Ngobeni from Pretoria News appointed as eNCA's new sports editor from February.

BREAKING. eNCA news boss Mapi Mhlangu quits as editor-in chief; out with immediate effect citing academic work pressure; Jeremy Maggs to take eNCA into 2019 election year coverage.

Mapi Mhlangu has abruptly quit eNCA (DStv 403) as editor-in chief and is out with immediate effect after a year and four months, with senior anchor Jeremy Maggs who is also eNCA editor-at-large who will be overseeing the South African TV news channel in the interim.

Jeremy Maggs who anchors during afternoons on eNCA will stop that for now to manage the news channel, but will likely continue anchoring his Sunday show Maggs on Media.

According to insiders the parting wasn't amicable, with well-placed insiders who gossiped that higher-ups allegedly had "lost confidence in her long ago" and that she was pushed out.

eNCA and Mapi Mhlangu who became editor-in-chief in July 2017 in a statement however cite "the onerous demands of the job along with the workload of her MBA" for her abrupt departure, saying "the tension between these two commitments was raised a couple of months ago leading to a difficult decision for both parties".

Mapi Mhlangu was at eNCA for 8 years and eNCA and Mapi Mhlangu say the decision to leave "is by mutual agreement".

"I leave eNCA in a strong position as South Africa's television news leader but this is the right time for me to leave and hand over the reins," says Mapi Mhlangu in a statement who earlier this month attended the launch event of eMedia's latest TV news channel OpenNews on its Openview free-to-air satellite TV service.

"I've enjoyed the myriad challenges I've dealt with during my leadership tenure and know that I leave the operation in safe hands. My only wish is that eNCA continues reporting the news fearlessly and without favour; continues to set the agenda and ask tough questions South Africans deserve answers
to."

eNCA will now be overseen by Jeremy Maggs heading up the newsroom until a permanent replacement is made, with Ragani Achary, head of input; Jody Jacobs, head of output; and Sally Burdett, story editor and head of anchors.

"The company acknowledges Mapi's contribution and would like to thank her for her unwavering loyalty to our newsroom and the huge part she has played in its success," says Khalik Sheriff, the new incoming eMedia Investments CEO.

"We believe the time is right ahead of the election period to make this change, allowing the

existing management team a chance to focus and prepare for 2019."

Jeremy Maggs says "I'd like to pay tribute to Mapi's exemplary leadership. Under her guidance she has cemented eNCA's position as the first source of television news in South Africa."

"I look forward to leading the station into 2019 and through the election. We have an extraordinarily strong product; a dedicated and talented team of over 500 people who collectively work tirelessly to bring news and analysis to South Africa in the fairest and most impartial manner."

eNCA adds puppet show, Almost News with Chester Missing.

eNCA (DStv 403) is adding a puppet show, Almost News with Chester Missing, on Sunday evenings at 19:30 from 25 November as the South African TV news channel ramps up its plans for 2019's election coverage.

Almost News with Chester Missing is a spin-off show from Late Nite News with Loyiso Gola, where the puppet made his first on-air appearance, and is produced by the same production company, Diprente, that did LNN for eNCA until its abrupt cancellation in September 2015.

Chester Missing, created and done by comedian Conrad Koch, has remained upfront in viewers' visage the past three years, with appearances from time to time on eNCA.

Although mercilessly mocked and struggling to get a word in edgewise, South African politicians appear to have a fearful yet awed fascination with the puppet, with politicians from across the political spectrum as well as a variety of public office holders and business high-flyers who have been willing to sit for the satirical, farcical and frenetic interviews with Chester Missing for what they in return crave most: time on television and in the limelight.

eNCA says Almost News with Chester Missing will "take an irreverent look at the current affairs landscape and put high-profile politicians through their paces in interviews only the country's most famous puppet can get away with".

Chester Missing chipped in with a quotable saying "I have my own TV show. I'm a puppet. Have any of you realised how crazy this is? Someone tell Hlaudi. He broke ground for puppets everywhere," referring to the fired former controversial SABC chief operating officer (COO) Hlaudi Motsoeneng who has been a blight on the South African TV industry.

Conrad Koch says "Chester and I are hugely excited to be creating this show with South Africa's best news source, eNCA, and the amazing award-winning team at Diprente".

"South Africa has huge room for incisive, hilarious satire as we move towards elections next year. We want to make Almost News with Chester Missing both well researched and really, really funny."

Mapi Mhlangu, eNCA editor-in-chief says "Over many years Chester has become an integral part of the political firmament and has asked questions of our leaders no one else would dare to".

"And with one or two exceptions, politicians and business leaders love the interchange and are happy to participate. Chester also provides a release valve for South Africans who need to laugh at each other and themselves."

Outgoing eMedia boss Andre van der Veen on Openview's new TV news channel, Open News: 'News today is too careful. Your challenge is going to be to push the boundaries.'

The outgoing eMedia Investments boss, Andre van der Veen, says the new South African TV news channel Open News launching 1 November at 17:00 on the Openview satellite TV platform will have to ruffle feathers, will have to push the boundaries and will not just bring viewers the news but also opinion.

"The one thing which was missing for a long time on Openview was news," Andre van der Veen, the outgoing eMedia Holdings CEO, said at the official launch event of the new free-to-air TV news channel launch today.

"So when we sat down and talked about the future of the business, the one thing we realised was that what we needed to do was establish a news channel."

"We've got eNCA (DStv 403), which is our pay-TV news platform. And we have eNews on e.tv. But we had nothing to offer our free to-air customers and we realised that we needed to do something on the news side - but we needed to do something different."

"The brief to Nisa Allie, Open News managing director, was firstly, don't be scared to venture an opinion. News today is too careful. And I said to Nisa: 'You need to say on the channel what we all think in our minds".

"The job of Open News firstly is to express what we think, what we want to say," said Andre van der Veen.

"We live in an era of political correctness. Sometimes we have to be brave. You have to push the boundaries. And by pushing the boundaries, you engage with the audience."

"Nisa and the team really took that brief and pushed it to the limit. Your challenge is going to be to stay on brief, because you are going to face criticism. And in an era of political correctness, it's very easy to criticise. It's very easy to say that's inappropriate or it's wrong."

"But you need to stand up and you need to life by those principles, and it's important that you surround yourself with people who will give you honest advice. We all make mistakes, or venture too far but what will make a difference for Open News will be to push the boundaries. And that's the job of you and your team."

"Open News cannot look the same, it cannot be the same because there's a lot of news out there. The success of Open News is going to be your ability to push the boundaries," said Andre van der Veen.

"I'm very proud as the head of eMedia to see what we've been able to do in the news landscape, whether it's what Nisa Allie is going to do at Open News, Mapi Mhlangu running eNCA, what Sally Burdett does at eNews, what we do on eNuus on kykNET (DStv 144) and Nuusdag on eExtra (Openview 105 / DStv 195 / StarSat 489). We've made news part of our DNA."

"Because we've made news part of our DNA, we've made our DNA part of South Africa. And the role we play in South Africa is a role which cannot be ignored and understated. You've got a responsibility in what you do in society."


ALSO READ: IN PHOTOS. Official launch event of eMedia's new Open News free-to-air TV news channel on Openview. 

ALSO READ: IN PHOTOS. Inside the Open News studio in Cape Town of the brand-new South African TV news channel on eMedia's Openview free-to-air satellite TV service.

ALSO READ: A young group of anchors are the faces of the new South African TV news channel, Open News, on eMedia's Openview service. 

ALSO READ: Nisa Allie, Open News boss, on South Africa's new free-to-air TV news channel that will use cellphones to capture content, news anchors who will ad lib and give not just news but opinion, and bring viewers social media content that's trending. 

eNCA taking Bloomberg business and finance news for its late-night News Hour from mid-October in new content distribution contract.

The TV news channel eNCA (DStv 403) will be taking Bloomberg business news content for its late-night News Hour strand from mid-October.

eNCA has signed a content contract with Bloomberg Media Distribution to funnel some of its business and finance news to eNCA's News Hour slot between 22:00 and 23:00 on weeknights.

The content will be used from mid-October. Bloomberg Media will provide insight into global market trends and business analysis through a series of special feature segments and personality profiles broadcast on eNCA.

"As the leading global business and finance media company, we are excited to partner with eNCA to bring our premium journalism and relevant content to business leaders and decision makers in the region," says Josh Bassett, director of Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) dstribution and partnerships at Bloomberg Media Distribution, in a statement.

"Our partnership with eNCA is an important part of our strategy to extend Bloomberg’s reach in the Africa business community."

Mapi Mhlangu, eNCA's editor-in-chief in the statement says eNCA is "delighted with this new partnership as it gives more heft to our business and markets coverage at a time when the economy is top of mind for all South Africans".

"As the recession starts to bite we simply cannot ignore the fact that our economy is intricately tied to the rest of world. Whether it’s the strength or weakness of our rand against the dollar which impacts on the fuel and the cost of imports, or perceptions about our emerging market status, we must be in the know to stay ahead of the money game."

Siki Mgabadeli also gone from eNCA as the latest high-profile talent exiting the TV news channel.

Siki Mgabadeli is the next high-profile talent exiting the rebranded eNCA (DStv 403) with her last appearance on the TV news channel coming on Tuesday 1 August a day after Justice Malala left following the final episode and cancellation of The Justice Factor on Monday

Siki Mgabadeli that started with Moneyline four years ago on eNCA was moved to the new late night News Hour at 22:00 on the rebranded eNCA the past two weeks but is the next gonner in the ongoing and growing flood of exits in 2018 from eNCA that the eMedia Investment's channel doesn't want to talk about or respond to.

eNCA and e.tv defections have continued unabated in 2018, including senior reporter Karyn Maughan, political analyst Angelo Fick, anchors Marc Chase, Joanne Joseph and Ayanda-Allie Paine, eNCA's former head of current affairs, Debbie Meyers, and Phathiswa Magopeni who was eNCA's business and economics editor and head of terrestrial news services at eNCA.

"Today marks my final broadcast on eNCA. It's been an incredible four years. I am especially proud of the 485 episodes of Moneyline and my superstar team. We did things I had only dreamt of doing. Thank you to these great journalists and producers. And thank you for watching,"said Siki Mgabadeli in a statement.

Mapi Mhlangu, eNCA editor-in-chief and managing director, said "we thank Siki for her contribution to the channel. She helped build a solid economic platform on eNCA and her accomplished and authoritative approach made her a nightly news favourite".

Justice Malala the next eNCA exit as The Justice Factor gets cancelled after nearly 10 years.

Justice Malala is the next high-profile exit from eNCA (DStv 403) with his long-running political interview show The Justice Factor that is cancelled.

eNCA on late Monday afternoon abruptly announced five hours before The Justice Factor that Monday night's edition would be the last episode on the rebranded eNCA.

The channel conspicuously left out the political talk show and Justice Malala when it announced its adjusted programming line-up and talent roster in mid-July a month after the channel's 10th birthday.

Industry insiders have been buzzing for weeks that the well-respected political commentator is in the running and part of the shortlisted candidates to start a new TV news channel to rival eNCA and SABC News to replace Mzwanele Manyi's struggling Afro Worldview (DStv 405), formerly ANN7, that will be shut down on 20 August on MultiChoice's DStv satellite pay-TV platform.

MultiChoice has however refused to announce the names of the shortlisted candidates for public scrutiny, with MultiChoice SA CEO Calvo Mawela who said the Naspers-owned pay-TV service plans to announce the winning local TV news channel bid before Afro Worldview's termination date.

Justice Malala's eNCA exit after nearly a decade of hosting The Justice Factor with its "Loser of the Week" closer segments, is the latest in a flurry of well-known and respected on- and off-screen news and actuality talent that have left the eMedia Investment's Hyde Park hangout this year - some after having been at e.tv for many years.

eNCA and e.tv defections have continued unabated in 2018, including senior reporter Karyn Maughan, political analyst Angelo Fick, anchors Marc Chase, Joanne Joseph and Ayanda-Allie Paine, eNCA's former head of current affairs, Debbie Meyers, and Phathiswa Magopeni who was eNCA's business and economics editor and head of terrestrial news services at eNCA.

Over the past almost 10 years Justice Malala and The Justice Factor often created buzz-worthy moments with Malala's unrelenting probing of politicians who were willing to do sit-down interviews, as well as trainwreck spectacles with the likes of Hlaudi Motsoeneng.

Justice Malala, well-versed in the visual power of television to demonstrate a point more powerfully than words can, in October 2013 drove home the shocking corruption and mismanagement in the South African government when the production crew bought R1 000 of KFC and stacked it on the anchor desk to show the shocking waste of the R53 000 in fast food including KFC that the then Northern Cape premier Sylvia Lucas bought during just 10 weeks in office using her government credit card.

In a statement Justice Malala said "I started my TV career at e.tv and will forever be grateful to have been there 10 years ago to see eNCA being born and grow to become the national treasure it is today. It is a voice that has enriched this democracy and has become a pillar of our society. I have no doubt it will continue to be vigorous and to report without fear or favour. It is a voice that must not be stilled".

Justice Malala will apparently be going overseas with his family for a sabbatical.

Mapi Mhlangu, eNCA editor-in-chief and managing director, said "we would like to thank Justice for so many years of consistently great television. He has made an enormous contribution not only to eNCA but also as a powerful voice in the political landscape of our country. We wish him and his family all the best as they embark on this new adventure".

eNCA updates its on-air look with a rebuild studio and video wall, adjusted timeslots and a Jane Dutton talk show.

On Monday 16 July eNCA (DStv 403), that turned 10 years old last month, is redoing its on-air look with a rebuilt Hyde Park studio that includes touch screens and a big video wall, as well as reducing the number of its on-air blocks including folding the afternoon slot News Day into a bigger midday slot rebranded as eNCA Now, and a prime time talk show for Jane Dutton.

From Monday Morning News between 06:00 and 09:00 becomes Morning News Today anchored by Dan Moyane and Uveka Rangappa.

Morning News Today on weekdays will look at overnight news stories and provides an overview of the day that lies ahead. The timeslot will also take a look at the lighter side of life in the country with human interest and lifestyle features.

The Lead between 09:00 and 13:00, News Day between 13:00 and 14:00 and Afternoon News between 16:00 and 18:00 all fall away and are folded into the more generic eNCA Now block from 09:00 to 17:00 with rolling news coverage.

eNCA Now will be anchored by by Xoli Mngambi, Jeremy Maggs, Michelle Craig and Thulasizwe Simelane throughout the day. Devan Murugan will be doing business news coverage.

News Night that used to start at 18:00 will now start an hour earlier at 17:00 from Monday anchored by Vuyo Mvoko and Cathy Mohahlana and go until 20:00 instead of 21:00.

News Night will continue to cover the day's big news stories.

At 20:00 on eNCA there's the introduction of Tonight with Jane Dutton, a new weekday talk show that eNCA calls its "flagship daily talk show" that will feature interviews various guests and newsmakers.

Jane Dutton returns to South Africa and e.tv from Al Jazeera.

The half hour Moneyline on eNCA falls away to make space for the hour long News Hour at 22:00 on weekdays, anchored by Shahan Ramkissoon and Siki Mgabadeli.

News Hour will take a look at the day's top news and business stories and will feature business reports as well as in-depth coverage of the day's news events.

Late Edition follows at 23:00, that eNCA calls " comprehensive, relaxed and conversational review of the day's news and a first look at the next day's action".

Mapi Mhlangu, eNCA's managing director and editor-in-chief, says the redone studio where news anchors will be able to move around more and the big video wall will make eNCA's "news delivery more contemporary, more interactive and faster moving".

She says that eNCA will continue to do "quality news".

"Audiences today have far more choice in a fragmenting television environment. My promise to the eNCA community is that despite the changing nature of news consumption, we will continue to rely on what has made us successful:  quality news that reflects the complexity of South African society, always mindful that we are a voice for ordinary people and their daily struggles," says Mapi Mhlangu.

eNCA's Pindai Dube released after the TV news channel's foreign correspondent was arrested in Cabo Delgado, Mozambique on Saturday.

The eNCA (DStv 403) reporter Pindai Dube has been released a day after he was arrested in Cabo Delgado in Mozambique where the foreign correspondent from Zimbabwe was covering military uprisings in the country.

Pindai Dube, along with a driver and interpreter, were arrested on Saturday but released on Sunday after urgent appeals to Zimbabwe president Emmerson Mnangagwa, as well as the EU ambassador.

Mapi Mhlangu, eNCA's managing director and editor-in-chief, said Pindai Dube has been released thanks to Amnesty International's intervention following the reporter's arrest.

Pindai Dube was held at the Wimbe police station in Mozambique while covering the recent attacks of Islamic insurgents in Mozambique.

Jane Dutton joins eNCA for a new prime time actuality talk show as the TV news channel readies a new studio, new on-air look and a new line-up with a bigger focus on talk television than just news.

Jane Dutton is joining eNCA (DStv 403) to anchor a new evening actuality talk show from next month as the local TV news channel that turned a decade old at the beginning of this month readies a new studio, a new on-air look, as well as a rejigged programming line-up with a bigger focus on talk television than just news.

Jane Dutton was the first news anchor of eNews together with San Reddy when e.tv started doing TV news bulletins in 1999, and she left in 2005 before the eNews Channel that eNCA was formerly known as, launched in June 2008.

Jane Dutton joins eNCA from Al Jazeera and will front a new live weekday talk show in which she will interview newsmakers about South African current affairs while viewers interact with calls and on social media.

The as yet unnamed show will make its debut on Monday 16 July at 20:00 and run on weekdays meaning a reduced runtime of the NewsNight timeslot.

"I've been around the world and back again but I suspect coming home to my beloved South Africa and eNCA could prove to be the best adventure yet," says Jane Dutton. "I am delighted that eNCA has given me the opportunity to give back and make this homecoming happen".

Mapi Mhlangu, eNCA's managing director and editor-in-chief, says the hope is that Jane Dutton will bring a compelling viewing dynamic as part of eNCA's programming line-up shake-up.

"As we celebrate 10 years on air this show will represent just one element of a bigger programming and presenter configuration designed to meet the changing needs of our audience. We have entrenched our position as the country's leading TV news channel over the past decade and Jane's presence will further cement that," says Mapi Mhlangu.

eNCA celebrates 10 years on air today; will mark its decade old celebration with the debut of a new high-tech studio and a new on-air look within weeks.

The South African TV news channel eNCA (DStv 403) that launched on 1 June 2008 is turning 10 years old today and will within weeks be celebrating this milestone by introducing a new high-tech Johannesburg studio in Hyde Park as well as another on-screen image makeover.

When eNCA made its debut in June 2008 on MultiChoice's DStv satellite pay-TV platform as only the second South African TV news channel ever following the SABC's first attempt called SABC News International that was shuttered after three years, Sabido and e.tv executives were initially somewhat doubtful as to whether the successful eNews brand could translate to a viable local 24-hour TV news channel.

The eNews Channel that underwent a name change to eNCA to more clearly differentiate it from E! Entertainment's E! News and that has undergone two on-air imaging changes since, has however put to rest fears about whether a South African TV news channel could exist on a sustainable basis and lure enough viewers.

Since then the SABC tried again with SABC News, and the now controversial Gupta family launched the disastrous ANN7 that was recently renamed Afro Worldview and that will go off the air in August when it disappears from DStv.

eMedia Investments' news channel consistently lures more than 50% of the total audience tuning to news channels on DStv - grabbing more viewers monthly than the other local news channels like SABC News and Afro Worldview - as well as the international news set of CNN International, Sky News, Al Jazeera, BBC World News, CNBC Africa, Business Day TV and the rest - all combined.

eMedia Investments will now start a second TV news channel, OpenNews, in the last quarter of 2018 as a free-to-air digital terrestrial television (DTT) news channel on its Openview direct-to-home (DTH) satellite service.

Ten years since e.tv launched eNCA at Melrose Arch in Johannesburg at 19:00 with anchors Jeremy Maggs and Redi Direko, the channel has weathered new news channel competition, multiple on-air and behind-the-scenes staff turnover, scandals, must-see exclusive interviews, funny "don't touch me on my studio" viral TV moments and brutal programming downsizing and staff lay-offs.

There were also an American meteorologist adored by the public, the unduplicatable on-air chemistry between Iman Rappetti and Jeremy Maggs as prime time co-anchors, as eNCA quickly became a hatchmill for talent, with various bold names snatched up by other international and local broadcasters over the past few years. 

Within weeks eNCA will once again change, introducing a new studio at its Hyde Park headquarters in Johannesburg, together with another big on-screen refresh of its look  -the channel's 4th in its history.

"While it will look spectacular, we will still hold true to our tried and tested journalism formula of being fair, impartial, curious and asking the toughest questions to everybody," says Mapi Mhlangu, eNCA managing director and editor-in-chief.

"We believe that eNCA then and now continues to make a significant impact on the South African news landscape. We've brought telling pictures into people's lives of the most important news events in the country, including the death of Nelson Mandela and the Marikana tragedy. We've held and still hold politicians and business leaders to account and have also reported on the simple triumphs and agonising despair of millions of ordinary South Africans."

Mapi Mhlangu says "we haven't always got it right. We've made mistakes; sometimes misunderstood tone and mood; and spelled names incorrectly. Twenty-four hour news moves with the speed of light. It's no excuse of course to err and we always move quickly to rectify matters".

"In 10 years we remain entrenched as the country's television news leader across all news channels and we plan to remain firmly in that position in our next decade".

"We know the news environment is changing and we're changing with it. We're also aware we occupy this responsible position of leadership through the loyalty of our viewers. For that, we are immensely grateful and we promise to keep trying as hard as we can to bring you the complicated South African story without fear or favour".

ANN7 changes to Afro Worldview on MultiChoice's DStv with Richard Nta and Flo Letoaba as new morning co-anchors, will no longer report that anyone 'died' since people only 'pass on', says owner Mzwanele Manyi.

On Monday morning the brand-damaged ANN7 (DStv 405) rolled out its new look as Afro Worldview on the same channel number and with the same set, but a new logo on DStv - with owner Mzwanele Manyi who said he won't interfere with the "new" channel's editorial decisions but then said it was decided that henceforth Afro Worldview in its news reporting won't say someone died but always use passed on.

Although name-changed to try and distance itself from its disastrous, often-mocked and blooper-filled on-air image, as well as its history of bias and links with the now-notorious Gupta family, MultiChoice will still dump Afro Worldview on 20 August from its DStv satellite pay-TV platform.

With a set design that's now incongruent to its new logo and colours, the gold-and-black themed Afro Worldview launched with new morning co-anchors Richard Nta and Flo Letoaba who both previously worked for the competing TV-news channel eNCA (DStv 403).

Afro Worldview that according to its contract with MultiChoice is supposed to supply publicity material and talent photos, schedule information and programming updates to both the pay-TV operator and the press, didn't issue any press releases about anchor, line-up or programming block changes to the media ahead of today's rebranding exercise.

Mzwanele Manyi, the Afrotone Media Holdings chairperson, on Monday morning in an appearance on Afro Worldview, said that the channel will have a new editorial policy "and it's going to be a major shift from all the criticism that we've been receiving from a whole range of people".

He said Afro Worldview wants to be "the trusted voice of Africa".

Mzwanele Manyi said the rebrand from ANN7 to Afro Worldview is part of a plan to steer the TV news channel in a new direction with around 500 people working in the news group "whose jobs are going to go if this channel shuts down."

"So all of this fanfare and everything is an effort to say to South Africa, this channel cannot shut down. We have done everything that needs to be done to make sure that this channel does not shut down. We have cut a clean break with the Guptas. We don't owe any Guptas anything."

Following eNCA's lead where Mapi Mhlangu is the managing director and editor-in-chief, Mzwanele Manyi announced that the channel will have "a black, an African, and a woman who is going to be the new editor of the channel".

About Afro Worldview Mzwanele Manyi said "I'm just the owner. So I don't want to get involved in editorial policies. That's one of the major decisions. We're going to draw a strong line between owners and editors."

Mzwanele Manyi later in the same interview then announced as owner an editorial policy change, saying that "one of the things that you will never hear again, ever, in this channel, is when a person has passed on, you hear 'a person died'. With us as Africans, a person does not die, a person passes on."

"So let it be clear to everyone, even if you say I'm interfering with the editorial policy, but here, because we are Africans, we must never say a person died. A person passes on; an animal died. That kind of a thing."

eNCA anchors Joanne Joseph and Ayanda Allie-Paine both resign in latest wave of high profile exits from the TV news channel.

e.tv insiders told TVwithThinus that both the veteran anchor Joanne Joseph and Ayanda Allie-Paine are leaving eNCA (DStv 403) in the latest wave of high profile exits rocking the South African TV news channel, with eMedia Investments confirming that both have resigned.

Joanne Joseph and Ayanda Allie-Paine's resignations come hot on the heels of eNCA's former star crime and court reporter Kary Maughan who left last month, and the shock exit of Debbie Meyers, the head of current affairs at eNCA and e.tv.

Meanwhile e.tv is also gutting its long running morning show Sunrise with plans to outsource its morning breakfast show that's been on the air since April 2008 to an outside production company, with shocked e.tv staffers who have been served retrenchment notices and are likely getting fired.

One insider described a situation where "morale is at an all time low and people are desperately searching for new jobs".

The highly respected Joanne Joseph has been anchoring the 16:00 to 18:00 timeslot on eNCA, and joined the Power FM radio station in February 2017. Her exit date from eNCA has not yet been finalized.

For Ayanda Allie-Paine its the second time she's leaving eNCA - this time after less than a year after she rejoined eNCA in May 2017 to anchor eNCA's new weekend morning programming strand, Weekend Wake Up on Saturdays and Sundays.

It's not clear who will replace her, or if Weekend Wake Up on eNCA is getting canned. Ayanda Allie-Paine's abrupt last appearance on eNCA will be over the coming Easter Weekend.

eNCA in response to a media enquiry says "eNCA can confirm that Joanne Joseph and Ayanda Allie-Paine have resigned to pursue new opportunities".

"Joanne has been with eNCA for almost nine years, anchoring various programmes during her tenure. As a consummate professional with over 20 years of experience, she has tirelessly helped lead the coverage of some of the most prominent news stories of the last decade," says eNCA.

"Joanne has made a valuable contribution to the channel," says Mapi Mhlangu, eNCA editor-in-chief. "She is a formidable journalist, who has used her skills to help our viewers navigate through the key stories during a particularly turbulent period in our democracy."

eNCA says Ayanda-Allie Paine who re-joined eNCA last year "energising the channel’s Saturday and Sunday morning line-up with the Weekend Wake Up. Her dynamic interviewing style and keen journalistic skills have led to a number of memorable moments on the channel". 

"Ayanda-Allie has an infectious passion for news and development, which will be missed by her colleagues and our viewers," says Mapi Mhlangu. "We wish Ayanda and Joanne all the best in their future endeavours." 

BREAKING. eNCA slaps back at EFF's Julius Malema after the political leader accuses the TV news channel of 'protecting white privilege'; eNCA says its journalists are now getting threatening messages.

eNCA (DStv 403) is slapping back at the caustic political leader of the Economic Feeedom Fighters, Julius Malema, who on Sunday accused eNCA of protecting white privilege as a channel that allegedly "perpetuate white supremacy", with eNCA's managing director and editor-in-chief, Mapi Mhlangu, saying that eNCA opposes racist domination and that eNCA journalists are now being threatened and targeted with threatening messages.

On Sunday, Julius Malema tweeted that "the changes at SABC are worrisome, someone is busy creating eNCA lite at the SABC. We have to find a way of stopping whiteness from taking over the only platform of black people before is [sic] too late. eNCA is the platform that perpetuate white supremacy and there's no doubt."

"I think EFF should really discuss in depth the role of eNCA in perpetuating and defending white privilege and see if we can't come to the same conclusion we did with the ANN7."

"On Sunday 18 March 2018, the leader of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), Julius Malema, accused eNCA of protecting white privilege and white supremacy on Twitter. This accusation is disturbing given the values at the core of eNCA's journalism over the last decade," says Mapi Mhlangu.

Mapi Mhlangu says Julius Malema's "tweets have consequences, not least because he is the leader of a political party with substantial representation and support across South Africa. The first of these consequences have been threats to individual journalists in the wake of his online messages".

"Despite our relative small size as a news organisation, we have consistently dedicated our limited resources to stories which have put justice, equality and human rights at the centre of our news, in line with our insistence that we offer news without fear or favour."

"Our staff have consistently told stories about what is broken in this country, how it can be fixed and how we can make each other accountable," says Mapi Mhlangu.

"Julius Malema's characterisation of eNCA is not supported by the factual record. The channel's majority stakeholder is a black empowerment company, Hoskins Consolidated Investments (HCI), and of that a significant share of eMedia Investments' is held by the South African Clothing and Textile Workers' Union (Sactwu). The ownership of eNCA through eMedia is therefore not as has often been alleged in public."

"Additionally, the staff members at eNCA are representative of the diversity of people who make up contemporary South Africa, who bring to their work divergent political views and social experiences, which inform our story-telling in ways which South Africans have appreciated to the extent of making us the most-watched channel among news viewers."

Mapi Mhlangu says that "at any other time in our country’s history" Julius Malema's tweets "would have required a response from the editorial team, not least because it is a question of ensuring the safety of journalists in a democratic society".

"In the year ahead of what may be South Africa’s most important general elections since the abolition of legislated apartheid, the role of the news media and the safety of those who work in this crucial sector, cannot be overstated. We must remind ourselves the role that South Africa’s journalists and media organisations played in holding executive power to account and their key role in protecting the democratic order, which eventually saw the reinstitution of corruption charges against a former head of state."

"Furthermore, eNCA operates in a highly regulated space governed by The Broadcasting Complaints Commission of South Africa (BCCSA). If political organisations or their leaders have concerns about news media organisations or their output, there are structures and processes in democratic South Africa available to them to pursue their complaints."

"The BCCSA is one avenue through which any person or organisation may pursue their complaint should direct engagement with that media organisation not be satisfactory. This is the democratic right assured all of us in democratic South Africa," says Mapi Mhlangu.

"Media freedom and the safety of journalists are under increasing threat around the world.  South Africans fought long and hard to guarantee this freedom as a pillar of the constitutional democracy.  Political parties, leaders and citizens have the freedom to criticise the media, but also have the responsibility to do so through the channels available to them in ways which contribute to strengthening democracy and accountability."

"eNCA is an organisation founded by people who opposed racist domination, and every day the hundreds of people who work incredibly hard to make eNCA the most watched news channel on satellite television in South Africa reaffirm that commitment to a democratic country in which we celebrate a plurality of views within the letter and spirit of constitutional democracy."

"We affirm that commitment to a democratic country in which we celebrate a plurality of views within the letter and spirit of constitutional democracy."

BREAKING. SABC appoints Phathiswa Magopeni as the South African public broadcaster's new boss of news and current affairs.

The SABC has appointed Phathiswa Magopeni, currently the business and economics editor and head of terrestrial news services at eNCA (DStv 403), as the South African public broadcaster's new boss of news and current affairs.

Phathiswa Magopeni will start at the SABC on 1 March. eNCA's Mapi Mhlangu, managing director and editor-in-chief at eNCA was also approached by the SABC for the same position at the public broadcaster.

Phathiswa Magopeni replaces the disgraced Simon Tebele who was a belligerent Hlaudi Motsoeneng sycophant and who was found liable for the legal costs for the wrongful firing of the so-called "SABC 8" journalists together with the controversial and famously matricless Hlaudi Motsoeneng.

Phathiswa Magopeni has an impressive CV and boasts an MBA, a honours degree, an MPhil in education, an Integrated Marketing Communications diploma and is currently working on a doctoral proposal for a Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) degree with the Gordon Institute of Business Science (GBIS).

Phathiswa Magopeni was previously at the SABC as a desk producer.

Phathiswa Magopeni's career in journalism began in 1998 when she joined the SABC in in Cape Town. She then jumped to e.tv's eNews in 2001 and returned to the SABC in 2005. In 2008 she rejoined eNews when the eNews Channel was launched (now called eNCA) in 2008.

She worked as a senior desk producer, output editor, eNews Prime Time editor and then became head of terrestrial news services. In 2013 she conceptualised and coordinated the launch of e.tv's Zulu news offering that has since been moved to Platco Digital's OpenView HD free-to-air satellite service..

 “South Africa’s public broadcaster has always played an indispensable role in the democratic order of the country, but it has also always had a special place in my own life," says Phathiswa Magopeni in a statement about her appointment.

"My first job in broadcasting was with the SABC. I learnt a lot there, and have learnt much in the industry since. Hopefully all that can be of use because this is for me a welcome return to where it all began. I am humbled by the trust shown in me, and look forward to being part of an institution which is crucial to providing independent news and information to South Africa’s citizenry".

The SABC in a statement says "This appointment is in line with the corporation’s continuous commitment to ensure that all group executive vacancies are filled in order to achieve sound governance in all the SABC’s business units. It also affirms our commitment to attract and retain the best skills to address the evolving broadcasting environment enabled by technology."

Chris Maroleng, the SABC's chief operations officer (COO), says "As a public broadcaster we recognise the pivotal role played by news and information in human, social and economic growth and development".

"We therefore saw it fit to appoint Phathiswa Magopeni as she has the expertise in the broadcasting industry and we believe that her appointment will further strengthen our position as a credible and reliable news and information provider in the country as we approach the national general elections in 2019."

"We welcome Phathiswa Magopeni back to the SABC where she first cut her teeth in the broadcasting arena. We urge all staff members to welcome and support her in her role as the new group executive for news and current affairs division."

eNCA says news channel is 'dealing with' Nickolaus Bauer internally after reporter tweeted old 2010-taken South African flag photos without checking the facts.

eNCA (DStv 403) says it is "dealing with" Nickolaus Bauer internally after he became the latest eNCA reporter to damage the TV news channel's brand reputation with an online, social media mistake when he tweeted photos of the old South African flag taken in 2010 without checking.

Mapi Mhlangu, eNCA's managing director and editor-in-chief, said in a statement on Tuesday evening that the news channel is "apologising unreservedly for our reporter's error" and that eNCA remains committed to providing the "unbiased, truthful, and accurate news coverage the channel has long been known for".

Mapi Mhlangu says eNCA takes Nickolaus Bauer's violation of a fundamental element of journalism - fact-checking before distributing or passing on information - seriously.

The brouhaha started when reporter Nickolaus Bauer on Monday tweeted photos - without checking - that was not part of Monday's "Black Monday" protests, yet linked it to the the Black Monday protests organised against farm killings and questioned the motives of some of the people participating in the protests.

One photo Nickolaus Bauer tweeted was of people wearing clothes branded with the old South African flag.

On Tuesday's front page of The Star, the newspaper co-incidentally used the same picture, without James Oatway's permission, credit or proper caption.

Another photo Nickolaus Bauer tweeted was in which someone was burning the current South African flag.

In reality the photographs were not taken on Monday or linked to Monday's Black Monday protests, but by James Oatway, who pointed the errors out after the photos began circulating widely on social media.

Nickolaus Bauer has since deleted the tweet.

He later admitted that he "severely erred", although "the message remains relevant".

On Twitter South Africans criticised the reporter and eNCA for the lack of fact-checking.

"Terribly disappointed Nickolaus Bauer that no fact checking happened, just sensational race baiting in a racially divided country. Not cool," said Tracey Shaw.

"At eNCA we have always prided ourselves on our commitment to truth and accurate reporting," says Mapi Mhlangu.

"Our guiding principle at eNCA has always been that reportage which does not meet the channel's stringent editorial standards cannot go on air, and therefore also cannot appear online."

"Reportage is not the same as opinion and we have consistently signaled the difference between these aspects of eNCA's work, both on television and across its online platform."

Mapi Mhlangu says eNCA is "dealing with Nickolaus Bauer's conduct internally. Until this process is complete, we will not be drawn further on this issue."

eNCA isn't a stranger to social media controversy that the channel's on-air talent caused.

In 2012 the then sports anchor Lance Witten was abruptly suspended after hurtful and inappropriate tweets following out-of-line and insensitive death tweet jokes after the Linkin Park concert structure collapse tragedy in Cape Town.

eNCA adds new John Perlman talk show, Under the Skin on Wednesdays at 21:30 with veteran radio presenter talking to famous South Africans.

The veteran radio talk show host John Perlman has joined eNCA (DStv 403) for a new late night TV talk show Under the Skin starting tonight at 21:30 with a next-day repeat on Thursdays at 09:30.

The veteran journalist and Kaya FM presenter who also exposed the SABC's infamous "blacklisting" scandal while he worked at the public broadcaster's SAfm radio station, will be talking to well-known South Africans in his new eNCA TV talk show.

In the first few episodes the veteran broadcaster's guests will include Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, minister Lindiwe Sisulu and HIV/Aids researcher Dr Glenda Gray.

"I'm honoured to join the best news team in television," says John Perlman. The thing about famous people is that we never know them as well as we think we do. On Under the Skin we will engage with prominent people about issues in the news in ways that also allow them to tell us something about who they are and how that shapes what they think and do."

"John Perlman has consistently shown his ability to have difficult and necessary national conversations, drawing South Africans out to tell their truth on their own terms," says Mapi Mhlangu, eNCA managing director.

"In the quest to get all of us to know more and judge less, eNCA believes that Under the Skin with John Perlman will allow South Africans to see some of our most controversial and contested and reviled personalities in a new light as full and complex human beings."

eNCA announces Cathy Mohlahlana and Vuyo Mvoko as its new prime time NewsNight anchors; Jeremy Maggs moves to NewsDay.

eNCA (DStv 403) has chosen workhorse Cathy Mohlahlana and Vuyo Mvoko fired a few months ago by the SABC as the 24-hour TV news channel's new prime time co-anchors and is launching a new youth-centric talk show entitled Backchat.

From 22 May the longtime eNCA reporter and anchor Cathy Mohlahlana will take over in prime time - any news channel's showcase timeslot - together with Vuyo Mvoko as the new co-anchor team on NewsNight.

The mid-morning Cathy Mohlahlana and newcomer Vuyo Mvoko are replacing Iman Rappetti who left eNCA last month and Jeremy Maggs who asked for an earlier daytime timeslot.

The experienced Cathy Mohlahlana has anchored across several timeslots on the news channel from eMedia Investments supplied to MultiChoice's DStv satellite pay-TV platform in the past.

Vuyo Mvoko was recently roped in for a reporting test drive after he was abruptly fired by the South African public broadcaster as one of the vocal so-called "SABC8" journalists who opposed former chief operating officer (COO) Hlaudi Motsoeneng's TV news censorship order.

While Cathy Mohlahlana's promotion to its flagship eNCA show was expected, Vuyo Mvoko's quick elevation is surprising since news channels usually reward internal anchors and reporters who've paid their dues and done anchoring and field reporting over years and who are familiar, trusted faces to viewers.

Vuyo Mvoko's show On the Record on SABC News (DStv 404) was abruptly cancelled by the SABC in March 2016 following behind-the-scenes censorship conflict, after which he penned a scathing "My hell at the SABC" front page editorial newspaper piece in July 2016 about the failing internal workings of the SABC newsroom.

"Vuyo brings political knowledge and years of experience and Cathy has excelled as an anchor since she moved from field reporting," says Mapi Mhlangu, eNCA news director.

Vuyo Mvoko says "with everything going on in the country today, Cathy and I hope to rise to the challenge of telling the story as it unfolds."

Cathy Mohlahlana says "Vuyo is someone I have the utmost respect for and I look forward to beginning this new chapter with him."

From 22 May Jeremy Maggs will move to front NewsDay between 13:00 and 16:00 on weekdays, that will see Michalle Craig and Shahan Ramkissoon pushed from this timeslot to mid-mornings where they will now anchor 9:00 to 13:00.

Uveka Rangappa and Dan Moyane will continue to anchor Morning News Today between 6:00 and 9:00, and Joanne Joseph will continue in the 4:00 to 18:00 timeslot on eNCA.